Thema: Copyright Controversy/ Die Urheberrechtdebatte

What better illustration of the European dilemma than the current debate about copyright: in legal terms the individual national context is basically structured as though it had European implications. The hard-won legal rights of literary copyright holders for financial reimbursement for their works, alongside the guarantee of freedom of speech, first facilitated the diversity of European literature. This legal entitlement is subject to national legislation, however, in the global and digital media world beyond national borders it represents a European challenge. Ultimately, this issue concerns the existence and future of writers, publishers and libraries – both with regard to the copyright holder and the various disseminators of literature. However, despite the wide variety of views presently it is clear that participants are involved in a hopeless controversy with each other. For instance, public libraries in many countries refer to the fact that publishing policy, which makes lending ebooks impossible, would put the libraries network at risk. In contrast, in an open letter the German PEN Centre attests to the EU parliament that enforced ebook lending in libraries would produce the biggest flat-rate giveaway of all time. Ultimately, publishers complain that IT groups as well as parliaments and libraries only keep in mind the consumers’ viewpoint as their sole concern. How can writers make a living from their works in a digital world? How can publishers meet their editorial obligations and make a living from this work? How can libraries meet their educational mission? In 2016, the Observatory for European Contemporary Literature aims to focus on the status of these debates from a transnational viewpoint and to illuminate the perspective of writers, publishers and libraries while highlighting potential opportunities for avoiding the chaotic situation.